humidity
B1Neutral to formal. Common in weather forecasts, scientific contexts, and everyday conversation about weather.
Definition
Meaning
The amount of water vapor present in the air.
1. The state of being humid, having a high moisture content in the atmosphere. 2. Used metaphorically for an oppressive, heavy, or stifling atmosphere, whether literal (weather) or figurative (emotional/social situation).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mass noun describing a measurable atmospheric condition. Can be preceded by adjectives like 'high', 'low', 'relative'. In metaphorical use, implies discomfort or heaviness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Humidity' is the standard term in both varieties. In casual UK weather talk, 'muggy' is a more common adjective, while US speakers might say 'sticky' or simply 'humid'.
Connotations
Both associate high humidity with discomfort. In the UK, high humidity is often linked to unpleasantly warm, still summer days. In parts of the US (e.g., Southeast, Gulf Coast), it is a frequent, defining feature of the climate for much of the year.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in US media due to more regions with consistently high humidity levels.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The humidity is [ADJ: high/low].The [NOUN: room, climate] has a humidity of [NUMBER] percent.We need to [VERB: control, measure, reduce] the humidity.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sweating buckets in the humidity (informal, descriptive).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Relevant for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) industry, agriculture (greenhouse control), and manufacturing processes sensitive to moisture.
Academic
Core term in meteorology, climatology, physics, and environmental science. Used with precise measurements (e.g., 'relative humidity of 85%').
Everyday
Used in weather talk: 'The humidity is unbearable today.' 'I can't stand the humidity.'
Technical
Specific measures: 'absolute humidity', 'specific humidity', 'dew point related to humidity'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new system will humidify the entire warehouse.
American English
- We need to humidify the server room to prevent static.
adverb
British English
- The laundry dried only humidly in the damp basement.
American English
- (Rarely used; 'humidly' is literary/archaic.)
adjective
British English
- It's been a particularly humid week, hasn't it?
American English
- The air was so humid, my glasses fogged up immediately.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Today the humidity is very high.
- Plants need some humidity.
- I don't like summer because of the humidity.
- The forecast says the humidity will rise tomorrow.
- Relative humidity is a key factor in predicting fog formation.
- The museum must maintain a stable humidity to preserve the paintings.
- The oppressive humidity of the monsoon season affects everything from infrastructure to daily mood.
- Researchers are studying how increased atmospheric humidity influences storm intensity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HUMIDifier – it ADDs humidity to the air. 'Humidity' is what it adds.
Conceptual Metaphor
Humidity is a weight/pressure (e.g., 'The humidity pressed down on the city.'). Humidity is a blanket (e.g., 'A blanket of humidity settled over the coast.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'влажность' which directly corresponds, but note 'влажный' is 'humid/damp', and 'сырость' is more 'dampness/moisture' often for surfaces, not specifically air.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'humid' as a noun (e.g., 'There's a lot of humid today' – incorrect; should be 'humidity'). Confusing 'humidity' with 'temperature' (they are related but distinct).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a precise scientific term often paired with 'humidity'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature.
It is almost always an uncountable (mass) noun. You say 'the humidity is high', not 'humidities'.
'Humidity' refers specifically to water vapor in the air. 'Damp' describes a general state of slight wetness, often on surfaces or in materials, and is more tactile.
Yes. Moderate humidity is essential for comfort, health (preventing dry respiratory tracts), and for many plants and processes. Only extreme high or low humidity is problematic.
Collections
Part of a collection
Weather
A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.
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